The guard drops dead at the end of Silvash's rapier. Silvash notices a cavern behind the dead gray. With a little muscle, the opening can be enlarged. A moaning is coming from the inside.
Khartelosch carefully leans toward the opening to look into the darkness behind, hoping to see what is moaning before he considers letting it out.
Khartelosch peers into the opening to see a badly decomposed corpse and a badly beaten, but alive red-haired dwarf moaning as both are chained to the wall.
He pulls his head back and speaks quietly to the others, "We may have found our missing dwarf. Can someone help me just widen this opening a little?" He quickly works himself up into a rage and tries.
Verrin attempts to assist, but the close confines restrict his access..
Ibrah also tries to help.
Thaane's scrawny frame adds to the weight pushing the door open.
The door moves when Thaane pushes, even though the effort that moved it belong to Khartelosch and Ibrah.
The group can now plainly see the corpse and the dwarf chained to the wall in the small cavern room. There is a small table and chair as well as a cot with a chest under it.
Ibrah prepares himself and his companions, then moves to the dwarf's side to see if there is anything he can do to help him.
Good dwarf, I believe we have both friends and enemies in common. I am Verrin. May I know you name?
You are badly injured, cavern dweller. Allow me to examine your wounds.
Khartelosch looks tired now that the momentary rage has worn off, but he quickly pulls himself together.
The shackled dwarf regains color in his face as he receives first aid from the newcomers.
I am Gordon. Friend of Laholm and Whimbli. I came down here in search of the blue crystal...Then I was captured by "grays". I fear my daughter may have come looking for me. I have heard her voice, but haven't seen her.
Please unchain me...my equipment is in that locked chest.
Khartelosch looks around the "cell" for any obvious key rings, also checking the remains of the killed gray dwarf.
Take 10 on Perception for 18.
I don't recall what sources of light are in these tunnels. Is he operating entirely on darkvision? Do we all have it?
There is a sunrod in a sconce in the wall above the table. No keys are found anywhere. Gorrim is chained up and chest is locked. There is a plate of half-eaten meat and potatoes on the table. It appears as though the dwarf was not expecting you.
Khartelosch notices some odd indentations on the stone cavern wall behind the table. Further inspection shows that they are hand and foot holds carved into the wall to provide a way to climb to the ceiling.
Silvash checks the chest for traps and removes them if necessary, then opens the chest.
Ibrah thoroughly searches the room.
Silvash, do you think you could get his manacles open. My way might be too painful. By the way, there's a natural ladder here in the wall.
Inside the chest is an amulet, a pristine looking backpack, a strange obsidian bottle, two small ornate wooden boxes, a heavy canvas bag, an empty sack which appears to be made out of silver thread constructed with swirling patterns, and an orb that appears to be glass, but has some sort of strange liquid swirling around inside of it.
Ibrah finds nothing else in the room or on the corpse clothed in simple robes, shackled next to the shackled red dwarf, Gorrim. Gorrim seems to be improving as he stops struggling for breath and the color returns to his face, beard and hair as red as fresh blood.
Khartelosch looks further and discovers that there is a trap door just above the holds in the wall.
Thaane stands around picking at the half-eaten plate of food before he starts to devour the meal completely looking around stupidly at the goings on.
"Let me give it a try. Gorrim this should take a minute or two, try to be still."
Disable Device: Take 10 + 15 = 25 and take 20 if that's not good enough.
Ahh! What a relief. Those things were cuttin' off my circulation. I was ready to eat my own hands off here. the exhausted dwarf exclaims. Thank ya very much!
What can you tell us of this place? We were trapped here with no warning.
Khartelosch waves at the others and points upwards at the trap door at the top of the natural ladder. Quietly he says, I'm pleased that you still live Gorrim. Laholm and Whimbli send their regards. I understand you are in possession of a powerful artifact that has earned you a price on your head. A very high price. I assume that orb Silvash uncovered is just the one the mayor is looking for? Have no worry that I will try to take it; after his treatment of us, I would hold the mayor's unattached head in my hands before I gave him what he is looking for. Now for our orientation. Can you guess from the stonework how far below the outpost we actually are?
Well thank you kind sir? What was your name again, I didn't catch it? He says, not pausing long enough to get an answer he continues. The orb? Nah, the mayor don't know nothing about the orb. He is desperately seeking a blue stone. Looks like a jewel. Is really a key. Geez, ask so many questions can't keep ' em straight. he replies losing his train of thought.
Aah! Whimbli is still alive? He he! Laholm, ain't no one I know of alive can kill him. I am an elementist. Metalbender. Not much on stone, suppose my lineage ought to do better than that though. Anybody got water? Please I need some.
Thaane hands the suddenly hesitant dwarf his waterskin. To drink from.
Desperate, he accepts the water and remarks.
I see ya met up with Laholm's foul brother.
Half-brother. Thaane interrupts.
Any who, I don't got the blue stone no more. Twas takin from me by some gray-skinned creeps. I don't think they have anymore though. They came back and started accusing me of trickery and beat me. Let me live way longer than I was supposed to.
This cavern, from what I've seen of it is a massive an confusing complex. I was blind-folded though. Could have been going around in circles. I've heard more than a few dialects spoken down here and smelled some very foul things. Is Whimbli coming?
We ought be careful that there is no more grays about. He says, now whispering.
I do suppose I owe you my life though. Well then. I'll take my pack and if ya allow me to travel with you at least until we get back to Kilm, you can have the other items. Whoever takes the orb will also need this. He pulls out a feather from his pouch and waits to hand it to whoever decides to take the orb.
Whispering still. Wait.What was that about a price on my head? How much? He asks with equal parts worry and pride.
Ibrah studies the dwarf as he speaks, then quietly takes the orb and feather. How do we find your daughter, master dwarf?
Turning. Quickly pensive and anxious he replies. I...I don't know. Fighting back tears.
You've been injured, tortured and deprived. Allow me to examine you for wounds before we delve any deeper.
Khartelosch finishes tending to the head wound and black eyes, the only other wounds left from the care of the others.
Thaane picks up the obsidian bottle and studies it. He is amazed at the deep darkness of it.
Silvash detects magic on the items in the chest.
"Do you know what all of these items do Gorrim? If not I can try to identify them to know who would benefit most from each."
Good choice...Eric, Thaane. That contraption has saved my hide many times.
The orb, the boxes and the bottle all belonged to me. The other items I have never seen before.
Silvash studies the amulet, bag, and sack for a little while each, trying to find out what they do.
Can you tell us what the orb, boxes and bottle do?
Silvash determines that the amulet is an Amulet of Mighty Fists.The empty but beautifully crafted silver bag remains a mystery as it's use is unclear. The heavy sack contains 1,000 gold upon inspection.
"Ibrah, this amulet may help you. It will make your barehanded attacks magical."
Looking at Gorrim, "Any friend of Lahom's is welcome to travel with us. Do you mind telling us what the bottle, orb and boxes do?"
Well, the orb contains great power, but what it does exactly is uncertain. I have seen it create a lightning bolt the blew a hole through the wall, I have seen it turn someone violently ill. I have seen it create a shower of gold coins and I have seen it reverse gravity. So, I am not completely assured of what'll do. One box contains a powerful pearl that I had found and the other, an Ioun stone that I liberated from an evil wizard. Boy was that a time. Ya got anything to eat?